House Hearings
House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health: Texas v. United States: The Republican Lawsuit and Its Impacts on Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions
On Feb. 6, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s subcommittee on health held a hearing on how a federal judge’s ruling in Texas could affect protections of pre-existing conditions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Find a link to witness testimonies, member statements and the hearing live feed here.
Why this is important: The Texas v. United States ruling cited the ACA as unconstitutional—the case is in a high-profile appeals process. Members of the committee spent more time debating whether to hold a hearing on Medicare for All than discussing the implications of the ongoing federal case. Republicans pledged support to protect coverage of pre-existing conditions and to fix the ACA, using much of the hearing to highlight Democrats’ not bringing Republican single-payer proposals before the committees of jurisdiction.
House Committee on Education and Labor: “Examining Threats to Workers with Pre-existing Conditions”
On Feb. 6, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing to examine the threats to affordable health care for workers with pre-existing conditions and the protections offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Find a link to witness testimonies, member statements and the hearing here.
Why this is important: While there was general consensus among the panel that the Texas ACA ruling would not hold in the Supreme Court, there remains a clear partisan divide on support for the law. Republican Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (NC) led the charge against the ACA, while the new Democratic majority sought to emphasize the law’s importance through witness testimonies of those needing pre-existing condition protections to survive.
House Appropriations Committee; Labor-Health Subcommittee: Impact of the Administration’s Policies Affecting the Affordable Care Act
On Feb. 6, the House Appropriations’ Labor-Health subcommittee held a hearing on the impact of the administration’s policies on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically with regards to affordability, the increasing number of uninsured and the quality of the benefits available to people. Find a link to witness testimonies, member statements and the hearing here.
Why this is important: The subcommittee’s new chairwoman, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), said her intention with the hearing was to bring attention to the administration’s attempt to gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to find ways to reverse the administration’s initiatives.Republicans on the panel invited as their witness Ed Haislmaier, senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a group that has pressed for the repeal of the ACA.
Senate Hearings
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee: How Primary Care Affects Health Care Costs and Outcomes
On Feb. 5, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on the importance of primary care in managing chronic conditions and preventing future health care costs. Find a link to witness testimonies, member statements and the hearing here.
Why this is important: The hearing gave examples of various employer groups and primary care entrepreneurs that are bending the cost curve through the delivery of high-value care. Those testifying in front of the committee included primary care physicians and academics leading innovative primary care models such as Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices and an expert in employer health benefits.
Read more on healthcare policy on the McGuireWoods Consulting website.